So far we’ve discussed two of the four quadrants. We’ve discussed physical and mental, and today we will be covering spiritual. Of the four quadrants, the spiritual is the hardest to “nail down” as so much of it is a “feeling”, a “force”, a “vibration”, I don’t mean those in woo-woo terms but rather concrete terms.
Also by spiritual please don’t think that I mean someone who is very religious or someone who is all into crystals, chanting, and stuff of that nature. That’s not what I mean by spiritual development. Rather it’s a lifeforce thing. You can sense people who have high spiritual development, they have something different about them.
Leaders often, if not always, have high levels of spiritual development. This doesn’t mean they are necessarily moral but rather that they have high spirits, and therefore spiritual energy. Now that I’m sure I’ve thoroughly confused you let’s do our best to dive into this tricky subject and get to what exactly is spiritual development.
What Is Spiritual Development?
First we should define what is meant by “spirit” we talked about what it’s not before but let’s talk about what it is now. Spirit is the inner core of who you are as a human being, it’s beyond the mental and physical, something deeper more true to who you are. It’s also your will and inner strength. It’s your guts and your heart and your soul and your spirit, to use some of the many terms that have been used before.
Of course it’s also connected to your physical and mental nature. So things like hormones and mental clarity also play a role in your spirit. Like I said above, it’s much harder to define, and something you’ll feel more than anything else. You won’t just feel it but the others around you will feel it as well.
But how to develop it? And how do you know when you “feel” it?
The Numbed Spirits Of Today
Most people go about their lives in a haze, living lives of quiet desperation. They shy away from the world and from their true selves. They end up in cocoons that turn into prisons. This is the fate of the vast majority of men in today’s world. Their spirits, their souls, are crushed and contained. They are sapped of life, strength, and virility. They are sapped of power and left with a burnt out husk.
There are many things that’ll do this to a man. Years upon years of working a soulless mind numbing job that gets you no respect. But also things that men do to themselves, that they allow into their lives. Things that give them a quick injection of happiness only to numb them all the more in the end. I call these numbing agents and the worlds full of them.
And a man who wants to be spiritually developed, developed to the fullest, must rid his life of these numbing agents. They’ll destroy any spiritual development he acquires through other means. Sort of like going to the donut shop every day after working out. So what are the numbing agents?
I can never list all of them, as they often change shape, evolve, or are specific to individuals. But I can list general ones that seem to affect more men then others. In no particular order there is porn, alcohol, weed, tobacco, social media, tobacco, gambling, junk food, and more. The less of these agents that you have in your life the better off you’ll be and the better chance you’ll give yourself for spiritual development.
The Will & It’s Development
Another aspect of spiritual development is the development of one’s will. One’s willpower is perhaps the single strongest indicator of where one will end up than anything else. Develop the will and you develop your life. The easiest and simplest way to put that is “Do hard things.” if something is hard and worth doing, then seek it out and attempt to accomplish it. Bring good suffering into your life, this hardens the body, sharpens the mind, and ennobles the spirit.
What is good suffering? Good suffering is suffering that brings about good results, that bears good fruit. For example suffering through a grueling workout, work day, or fasting session all produce good things. Whereas bad suffering is suffering that produces bad things. For example abuse is bad suffering. Sort of like the difference between distress which is “bad” stress and eustress, which is “good” stress.
One makes you stronger and the other tears you down. Seek good suffering for the development of the will. Cold showers are a good daily workout you can use. But do what works for you. Think outside the box. Does it make you push yourself? Aspire? Climb higher than before? If it does those things then it’s likely worth pursuing and will lead to spiritual development.
The Development Of One’s Vital Force
As man there are certain conditions we were meant to live in. We were created for war. Many try to deny this but it’s written into both our history and biology. Man is a predator and a killer. Most efficient and effective than the rest of the beasts when it comes to this art. I’m not saying this is a good or bad thing, simply that it is and isn’t changing anytime soon. This martial desire has been channeled into both positive and negative things in the past and now.
Today most try to ignore this and end up the worse for it. This martial drive, just like your sex drive, must be channeled into positive places. Competition is good for this. Having a sport you do helps with this. Combat sports, MMA specifically does this for me. I know others who enjoy hunting. Again it’s about what works for you. I’d also recommend spending more time in nature.
Swim in a cold river, camp out in a dark forest, reek of fire, stare at the stars, let the wind blow in your hair. Men were made for outdoors. Don’t spend all your time breathing recycled air between four walls. Get out into nature, spend time there. Rewild yourself. Develop your vital force.
The Deepest Depths
Spiritual development is frankly something that can never be covered completely. But I think now you at least get the general idea. Spiritual development is something that can go on and on and on, there is no limit to it. Creativity also plays a role in this and was something didn’t have time to go over. But again, you have the basic tools to get this quadrant in order. Even the ditching of the numbing agents alone, will set you on a course for success. And more than most ever accomplish in their lives.
Solitude is another aspect of this. To me this is getting closer to God which is also part of spiritual development. Especially nature and solitude. I understand we all can’t go climb a mountain every week but just spending time in the silence is good for this as well. Like I said this is a topic that could go on and on and on.
But you have the basics, now go out and implement them.
For its action that’ll change your life, nothing more and nothing less.
If you’d like advice beyond this or a more detailed guide you can sign up for my coaching program. Regardless I hope the information here helps you and as always, thanks for reading.
-Charles Sledge
